Unaccompanied children: information & charges

More than 70,000 children each year travel alone on Lufthansa flights. They are looked after by the Lufthansa special service which ensures that the children and their relatives feel they are in good hands before take-off, during the flight and after landing.

Who must be looked after and who can be looked after?

Children aged between five and 11 years may only fly unaccompanied if they are using our special service or if they are travelling with someone who is at least 12 years old. However, children aged from 12 up to a maximum of 17 years old, who are travelling alone, can also be looked after at the request of their parents.

Please note that with partner airlines other regulations than those described here for Lufthansa may apply to unaccompanied children. If your chosen flight is operated by Germanwings, SWISS, Austrian Airlines or Brussels Airlines, please enquire directly with the airline about the rules for children travelling alone.

Important travel documents

Please let us know that your child will be travelling alone, preferably as soon as you book the flight. Our practical Checklist for unaccompanied children will be particularly helpful to you in preparing for your child’s journey. At the airport you will then receive a small yellow Lufthansa shoulder bag which ideally your child should keep with them, clearly visible, throughout the entire journey. The bag should hold all the necessary travel documents:

The special service form

Save time by printing out the special service form at home. We recommend three copies: one for you, one to go in your child’s small yellow bag (which you will receive at the Lufthansa check-in counter) and one for us.

Please note: The special service form consists of two pages. Please print them both out, complete them in full and bring them with you to the airport.

Baggage for unaccompanied children

Your child’s carry-on baggage may be just as large as that permitted for an adult; your child should, however, be able to carry the bag comfortably unaided. Medicines, which must be taken during the flight or at the destination, warm clothing and a small amount of spending money should, of course, also be included. You can read more about this subject in our carry-on baggage regulations.

Please also ensure that your child’s checked-in baggage does not exceed the free baggage allowance.

Booking

Tickets for unaccompanied children cannot be booked online; they can only be booked through the Lufthansa Service Centre, your travel agency or at the Lufthansa ticket desk at the airport.

If you have any questions, please contact the Lufthansa Service Centre. At every airport that Lufthansa flies to the Lufthansa Airport Ticket Team is also on hand if you wish to buy tickets, change your booking or make an enquiry.